Elevated tubing lane system

ABSTRACT

A tubing surface for inner tubes adjustably displaced above the ground.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from provisional patent application No. 62/203,759, titled ELEVATED TUBING LANE SYSTEM, filed on 11 Aug. 2015.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The government has no rights or claim to this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a tubing lane that is elevated off of the ground by supports and relates to an apparatus that allows users to slide down ramps in inner tubes any time of year, season, or temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, ramps for using inner tubes to slide down, are positioned or constructed on the ground. This can damage grass, foliage, the ground, and animals living in the ground or using the ground surface for habitation. Also, positioning ramps immediately above the ground without ventilation promotes dis-advantageous sledding conditions, such as icing or water formation.

The related art includes Adjustable Skateboard Ramp; U.S. Pat. No. 4,129,916; Inventor; Todd R. Schlesinger et al. This discloses a skateboard ramp that has various vertical and horizontal supports to maintain the ramp above the ground.

The related art also includes a Launch Ramp and Method of Making Same; U.S. Patent Application Publication number 2003/0176226; Inventor; Harris Daniel Kelsey. This discloses a ramp having substantially two flat surfaces, one is somewhat vertical, and the other is the angled ramp portion having a concave shape.

This is has a small ground footprint, but does not appear to be reconfigurable.

This is not re-configurable unless the supports are replaced with supports of different lengths.

Also, currently before installing the ramp, the pre-installation procedure usually includes removal, addition, or displacement of dirt or other ground matter, excavation work, and allow for the ground below to be exposed to the outside ambient atmosphere, and the grass, creatures, or foliage below could continue the life cycle without disturbance from ground covering.

Rather than installing the tubing on the ground, the lane is elevated using field-adjustable cross beams and/or 2×4 runners.

There exists a need for an inner tube lane that is elevated above the ground by a few support members to allow the organic and natural ground, including the surface and sub-surface conditions to not be compromised by an apparatus that would prevent such conditions by covering a large portion of the ground surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An elevated tubing lane system, comprising: a tubing surface; an elevation means to position said tubing surface above a ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the elevated tubing lane system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective embodiment of the elevated tubing lane system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a height adjustment means of the present invention; and;

FIG. 4 illustrates a lane with two boundaries and an innertube on the tubing surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 elevated tubing lane system

20 tubing surface

30 boundary

40 inner tube

50 user

60 elevation means

70 boundary lengthwise termination point

80 lengthwise support means

90 crossbar

100 ground

110 adjustable rod

120 slowdown strip

130 lower middle portion

140 edges

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words.

The invention, titled herein as an elevated tubing lane, is an elevated ramp disposed on the ground or grass, for inner tubes to slide down. The elevated tubing lane may be a lane for inner tubing that is elevated off the ground at varied heights and angles.

The components are interchangeable, which makes the elevated tubing lane system 10 re-configurable.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the elevated tubing lane system 10 of the present invention 10. In one embodiment there may be a tubing surface 20. The tubing surface 20 may have a boundary 30 disposed leftwardly and rightwardly of the tubing surface 20. FIG. 1 also illustrates an elevation means 60 that can elevate the tubing surface 20 above the ground. FIG. 1 illustrates a user 50 in an inner tube 40 descending down on a tubing surface 20. FIG. 1 also illustrates a boundary lengthwise termination pointe 70. If one boundary 30 terminates before the adjacent ones, then two lanes form into one lane.

FIG. 1 also illustrates an embodiment where the tubing surface 20 may have slow down strips 120 that may have a higher coefficient of friction than the other portions of the tubing surface 20. In one embodiment the slow down strips 120 may be made of Rough Top 150 SBR Rubber. It is preferable that the slow down strips 120 be disposed on the tubing lane 20 so that the slow down strips 120 contact the outside perimeter of the inner tube 40.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the elevated tubing lane system 10 of the present invention 10. A tubing surface 20 may be disposed between two boundaries 30.

A lengthwise support means 80 may support the tubing surface 20. An elevation means 60 may elevate the tubing surface 20 above the ground 100.

The elevation means 60 may have a lower end that is disposed on the ground 100 and an upper end that is attached to a lengthwise support means 80.

A crossbar 90 may be connected at each end to the elevation means 60 to assist in supporting the lengthwise support means 80.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the elevated tubing lane 10 of the present invention 10. The elevation means 60 may be adjustable so the tubing surface 20 is substantially flat or perpendicular with respect to the force of gravity. For example FIG. 3 illustrates one elevation means 60 being adjustable rod 110, and one adjustable rod 110 being longer than another adjustable rod 110. FIG. 3 also illustrates a crossbar 90 between each elevation means 60. The crossbar 90 may be connected to, or may be disposed under the lengthwise support means 80, which may in turn support the tubing surface 20, and/or the boundary 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a tubing lane 20 having a lower middle portion 130. The lower middle portion 130 causes the inner tube 40 to be forced to the middle of the tubing surface 20 via gravity.

FIG. 4 also illustrates edges 140 on the leftwardly and rightwardly sides of the tubing lane 20. The boundaries 30 may be placed above the edges 140. 

I claim:
 1. An elevated tubing lane system, comprising: a tubing surface (20); an elevation means (60) to position said tubing surface (20) above a ground; two boundaries (30) on said tubing surface (20); an elevation means (60) supporting said tubing surface (20) above the ground.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a slowdown strip (120) disposed on said tubing surface (20) disposed near the boundaries (30) and away from the middle of the tubing surface (20).
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: said tubing lane (20) having a lower middle portion (130).
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, whereby the lower middle portion (130) is 0.68 inches lower than the edges (140).
 5. An elevated tubing lane system (10), comprising: a tubing surface (20): said tubing surface (20) has a boundary (30) disposed leftwardly and rightwardly of the tubing surface (20); an elevation means (60) that elevates the tubing surface (20) above the ground; a boundary lengthwise termination pointe (70); the tubing surface (20) has slow down strips (120) that have a higher coefficient of friction than the other portions of the tubing surface (20); the slow down strips (120) are made of Rough Top 150 SBR Rubber; the slow down strips (120) are disposed on the tubing lane (20) so that the slow down strips (120) contact the outside perimeter of an inner tube (40); said tubing surface 20 is disposed between two boundaries (30); a lengthwise support means (80) supporting the tubing surface (20); an elevation means (60) elevates the tubing surface (20) above the ground 100; said elevation means (60) has a lower end that is disposed on the ground (100) and an upper end that is attached to a lengthwise support means (80); a crossbar (90) is connected at each end to the elevation means (60) to assist in supporting the lengthwise support means (80); said elevation means (60) is adjustable so the tubing surface (20) can be made substantially perpendicular with respect to the direction of the force of gravity; said crossbar (90) is disposed between each elevation means (60); said crossbar (90) is connected to the lengthwise support means (80), which supports the tubing surface (20); said tubing lane (20) has a lower middle portion (130) that causes the inner tube (40) to be forced to the middle of the tubing surface (20) via gravity; and edges (140) are disposed on the leftwardly and rightwardly sides of the tubing lane (20); said boundaries (30) are placed above the edges (140). 